Moisture conditioning tobacco container



April 25, 1950 P. w. RODMAN MOISTURE CONDITIONING TOBACCO CONTAINER Filed April 6, 1948 INVENTOR.

ATTORN EY.

Patented Apr. 25, 1950 UNITED MOISTURE CONDITIONING TOBACCO CONTAINER Perry W. Rodman, Bridgeport, Conn. Application April s, 194s, serial No. 19,347

7 Claims. (Cl. S12-31.3)

container. These are unsatisfactory because they are not rmly fixed in the container, and interfere with the normal removal of the tobacco therefrom. They also make it diflicult to renew the moisture conditioning medium and do not electually condition the tobacco in a properly regulated uniform manner. The invention contemplates either a humidifying medium to add moisture to the tobacco, or a de-humidifying or dehydration medium to remove moisture therefrom.

It is particuiarly proposed according to the invention to provide a moisture conditioning chamber constituting the base of the container, in# cluding means for securing the side walls of the container thereto, thus making for an inexpenn sive, sturdy and attractive construction. It is a further object to provide a tobacco container having a moisture conditioning chamber constituting its base, and which also serves as a receptacle for dust particles from the tobacco conn tained in the container, so that these particles, which constitute an irritant when the tobacco is smoked, are eiectually removed therefrom. A further object is to provide a tobacco container in which the humidifying or de-humidifying medium may be conveniently renewed without disturbing the contents of the container.

With the above and other objects in view, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, and these embodiments will be hereinafter more fully described with reference thereto, and the invention will be finally pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a tobacco container, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, portions of the same being broken away.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, on an enlarged scale and partially broken. away, taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view, taken along theline 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a, vertical sectional View, showing a modied form of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional View, showing another modiiied form of the invention.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional view, showing another modied form of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the moisture conditioning tobacco container, according to the illustrated exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a container body consisting of exible side walls I0 and I I, of leather, fabric, or the like, secured together at their ends by turnedin seams I2 and I3, and having secured along their upper edges a zipper fastener I4 of conventional type.

The lower end portions of the side walls I0 and II are secured within the moisture condie tioning chamber which constitutes the base of the container, this chamber consisting of a, longitudinally extending trough-like external member, indicated generally as I5` and comprising a rectangular base I6, longitudinal side walls I1 and I8 and end walls I9 and 20. The member I5 is constructed of pressed sheet metal.. molded plastic, or other suitable material. Within the member I5 there "is provided an internal base forming member, of inverted U-shape, indicated generally as 2|, and comprising a longitudinally extending top wall 22 having perforations 23 therein and downwardly extending side walls 24 and 25, these side walls being spaced from the side walls Il and I8 of the member I5 to provide spaces for receiving the lower end portions of the side walls I0 and Il of the exible container body.

These lower end portions are inserted between the side walls of the members I5 and ZI. the t between the parts being preferably such that the relatively flexible material of the walls: Ill and I I is tightly compressed to thus secure the parts together without any open seams or cracks in 3 which particles of tobacco may lodge. The ilexi- -wall 22.

The end wall I9 of the member I5 is provided with a threaded opening 28 in which is engaged a screw plug 29 to which there is secured a length of wick material 30, and which extends substantially the full length of the humidifying chamber. As illustrated the wick is secured to an inwardly projecting split stud portion 3l of the screw plug which is pressed into clamped relation with the wick. The wick is preferably twisted and engaged upon a stiffening rod or wire 32, also secured in the split stud portion 3l, to position the wick centrally within the chamber out of direct contact with its walls and to facilitate its insertion and removal. The wick may be saturated with water, when used as a humidifying medium, or it may consist of suitable v de-humidifying material, when used to remove moisture from the tobacco. Such material may be silica gel suitably applied to the wick, r the wick may be dispensed with and silica gel .crystals inserted in the chamber, through the plugged opening-2S. The arrangement of the wick within the chamber provides a substantial air space about the wick in. which the evaporation or absorption oi the moisture may take place and be absorbed by or abstracted from the tobacco Within the pouch without direct contact of the tobacco with the wick. At the same time suflicient space is provided about the wick so that the moisture conditioning chamber may receive dust particles ofthe tobacco which may sift through the openings 23, so that these are eirectually separated from the tobacco. Such particles may be readily removed through the opening le upon removal or the screw plug therefrom. It will be understood that the outline shape of the base and the forward material of the side walls may be changed, as desired, to accommodate the container of the invention to either loose togacco, cigars, or cigarettes, as well as to pocket or table use.

In 7 there is illustrated a modified form of the invention, in which the inner base forming member, indicated generally as ZIA, is provided in its side walls with shoulders 33--33 against which the lower ends of the exibie side walls of the container body are engaged, these lower being enclosed in reinforcing strips 34-34 bent about them. The upper edges of the side walls li and (t of the memberv l`are bent inwardly to form retaining iianges 35-35 so that the sever-al parts are efectually locked together.

In I have illustrated another modified form or" the invention in which the inner base forming member, indicated generally as ZIB, is formed or relatively stiff wire gauze bent into inverted U-shape.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated another modied form of the invention in which the external chamber' forming member ISC is provided in its side and end walls with downwardly extending pockets in which the lower ends of the Ilexible side walls Iii and il are engaged and Secured, either by being compressed therein or cemented, the turned-in seams being engaged in cut-outs 3l in the end walls. The inner base forming member 2 5C is formed of wire gauze, its side walls being inserted in the pockets 3S. Notches similar to the notches 2S and 21 of the rst embodiment are provided at the ends of the member 2lC to receive he turned-in seams.

I have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory embodiments of the invention but it will-be understood that changes may be made therein, within the spirit and scope thereof, as denned in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A tobacco container, comprising a container body consisting of side walls, closure means at the upper side of said body, and chamber means constituting the base of said body and consisting of a base wall, upwardly extending side walls and end walls, and a moisture pervious top wall, there being downwardly extending pockets in said `walls of said chamber means, the side walls of said Ybody being engaged and secured in said pockets.

2. A container, comprising a container body consisting of side walls, closure means at the upper side of said body and chamber means constituting the base of said body and consisting of an outer chamber forming member having a base walland upwardly extending side walls and end walls, an inner chamber forming member comprising a moisture pervious top wall and downwardly extending side walls inwardly opposed to the sidewalls of lsaid outer member, the side walls of said body being engaged and secured between the side walls of said outer and inner members.y

3. A. tobacco container, comprising a container body consisting of side walls, closure means at the upper side of said body, and chamber means constituting the base of said body and consisting of an outer chamber forming member having a base wall and upwardly extending side walls and end walls, aninner chamber forming member comprising a top wall having perforations and downwardly extending side walls inwardly opposed to the side walls of said outer member, the side walls of said body being engaged and secured between the side walls of said outer and inner members.

4. A tobacco container, comprising a container body consisting of side walls, closure means 'at the upper side of said body and chamber means constituting the base of said pouch body and conslsting of an outer chamber forming member having a base wall and `upwardly extending side walls and end walls, an inner chamber forming member formed of wire gauze comnrising a top Wall and downwardly extending side walls inwardly opposed to the side walls or said outer member, the side walls of said pouch body being engaged and secured between the side walls of said outer and inner members.

5. A tobacco container, comprising a container body consisting of side walls, reinforcing members engaged about the lower marginal portions of said side walls, closure means at the upper side of said body, and chamber means constituting the base of said body and consisting oi an outer chamber forming member having a base wall and upwardly extending side walls` and end walls, an inner chamber forming member cornprising a moisture pervious top wall and downL wardly extending side walls inwardly onnosed to the side walls of said outer member and having outwardly disposed abutment shoulders between their upper and lower edges, the reinforcing members of said side walls of said body being engaged and secured between the side Walls of said outer and inner members in abutting relau tion to said abutment shoulders, the side walls of said outer member' being bent inwardly at their upper edges above said reinforcing members.

6. A tobacco container comprising container body consistingr or side walls, closure means at the upper side of said body, and chamber means constituting the base of said body and consi Iing of a base wall, upwardly extending sidewallsand end walls, and a moisture pervious top wall, one

of the end walls having an aperture, a closure plug removably engaged in said aperture, a wick carried by said plug and engaged in said chamber means, and a stiiening member carried by said plug and extending longitudinally through said wick.

7. A tobacco container, comprising a container body consisting of lexible side walls secured together at their ends by turned-in seams, closure means at the upper side of said body, and chamber means constituting the base of said body and consisting of a base wall, upwardly extending side walls and end walls, and a moisture pervious top wall, there being downwardly extending pockets in said walls of said chamber means, the flexible side walls of said body being engaged and secured in said pockets, and said top wall having notches at its ends engaged by the turned-in seams of said exible side walls.

PERRY W. RODMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 774,681 Macdonald Nov. 8, 1904 1,035,507 Wilson Aug. 13, 1912 15 1,682,591 Babbitt Aug. 28, 1928 2,279,953 Richey Apr. 14, 1942 

